New York Multimate PBQ IV 2026

A razor-thin margin of just a third of a move decided the top prize in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, delivering the most dramatic moment of the weekend. Joseph Guzman secured the gold medal with a meticulous 21.67 average, holding off a three-way tie for second place. Elliot Wiecek, Jack Lee, and Chris Chi each posted matching marks of 22.00, meaning mere fractions separated the winner from a crowded podium. That razor-close finish set the tone for an intense gathering that tested intellect and memory in equal measure.

Held at TheCubicle Annex in Elmsford, New York, USA from March 27 to March 29, New York Multimate PBQ IV 2026 brought together 17 dedicated competitors. Over three days, the venue hosted 10 rounds across five specialty events, drawing seasoned solvers into technical battles. The focused atmosphere at this cubing competition rewarded precision and deep preparation, proving that small fields often produce the most exacting speedcubing contests of the entire 2026 calendar.

The multi-blind discipline delivered another extraordinary showdown that came down to the wire. Andrew Tao claimed the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind title by successfully resolving 56 out of 61 Rubik's Cube puzzles in exactly 1:00:00. Tao narrowly edged out Rowe Hessler, who submitted a monumental 55 out of 62 cubes solved in 59:29. Brandon Lin took third place on the podium after logging 37 of 41 cubes in 56:37, concluding an exhaustive display of endurance and spatial recall.

Blindfolded specialist Stanley Chapel authored an exceptional weekend by sweeping the remaining events on the schedule. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Chapel took first place with a winning single of 18.48 seconds, having also posted a scorching 15.40 single earlier in the rounds. Rowe Hessler finished in second place with a time of 22.53, while Chris Chi took third on the podium with a 27.39 single in the finals. These 3x3 results highlighted world-class blindfolded handling across every stage of the bracket.

Chapel continued his dominance into the larger blindfolded puzzles, asserting total control over the field. He claimed the 4x4x4 Blindfolded victory with a fast 1:04.15 single, finishing ahead of Chris Chi who locked up second place in 3:43.70. Chapel then completed his sweep by capturing the 5x5x5 Blindfolded title with a mark of 2:03.98. Rowe Hessler followed in second place with 5:50.83, while Quinn Maloney secured third place with a 19:31.00 completion.

Away from the top of the podium, several participants posted remarkable personal breakthroughs throughout the weekend. Zachary Van De Water tackled his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a score of 44, took on his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Blindfolded in 28:21.00, and slashed his 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best down to 3:38.16, which was 54.4 percent faster than his prior best. Justin Cawley earned an 11th-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded while improving his personal best to 1:36.77, a 18.6 percent drop. Serena Meng entered five events and recorded a personal best of 56.85 in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, trimming 30.9 percent off her former mark.

Other solvers delivered strong milestones across multiple technical disciplines at New York Multimate PBQ IV 2026. Yili Yi registered a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 1:04.96 for a 27.2 percent improvement, alongside a 5 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a 38 and a 5/7 Multi-Blind best. James McCaffrey logged his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a 51. Sky Hong achieved a 9/13 Multi-Blind personal best in 47:19. Steven Wintringham secured 7th in Fewest Moves, while Eli Rogers took 5th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 45.10 best and cut 15.4 percent from his Fewest Moves best with a 22.

The medal breakdown highlighted international depth alongside domestic dominance, with the United States collecting 16 podium places and Canada earning one. The specialized schedule pushed solvers through demanding memorisation phases and intricate move-count calculations, highlighting the rigorous nature of modern speed cubing. Every round challenged mental stamina across single-cube and multi-cube formats alike.

As the final times were verified, New York Multimate PBQ IV 2026 stood out as a premier showcase of blindfolded and efficiency solving. From the thrilling tie-breaks in Fewest Moves to marathon multi-cube attempts, the WCA competition demonstrated elite execution at every level. The solvers now turn their attention toward the upcoming season, carrying forward new personal milestones and hard-fought victories from Elmsford.